Examined: Factor Aluto – quick and enjoyable

Dylan Johnson has steered that tyre clearance is without doubt one of the most vital issues in a contemporary gravel bike, with round 45 mm being the minimal value having. Gravel using and racing proceed trending towards bigger tyre volumes, typically approaching mountain-bike territory. The Aluto passes his take a look at, with most clearances of 47 mm on the rear and 52 mm on the entrance — sufficient room for beneficiant rubber.

The body geometry boasts a reasonably quick wheelbase (1035 mm for the 56 cm examined), quick chainstays (423 mm), and a comparatively steep head angle (72°), all of which, in principle, mix to supply full of life, sharp dealing with. A low backside bracket lowers the centre of gravity however could make pedal clearance trickier over tough terrain.

Factor Bikes claims to have various the carbon layup and tube shaping strategically to maximise stiffness the place wanted whereas offering forgiveness elsewhere. This appears seen within the distinction between the underside bracket and chainstays — which look fairly chunky — and the extra slender seatstays and seat tube. The tapered head tube profile reinforces the intent to maintain the body minimal, whereas the notably slim fork blades are designed to ship what the model calls “forgiveness without softness.”

Other notable design options embody:

• UDH-compatible rear dropout
• Round seat tube, permitting for choices like a dropper submit
• A medium variety of mounting factors (bento, under-downtube, and bottles)
• Fully inner cable routing
• Compatibility with each 1× and a pair of× drivetrains
• Downtube storage (extra on this shortly)
• Electronic-shifting compatibility solely (examined mannequin: SRAM Force E1 XPLR)
• Black Inc parts, together with carbon wheels and an built-in bar-stem

All of this provides as much as a package deal that weighs about 8.2 kg as examined. That’s enjoyably mild for a 56 cm gravel bike — and after I first picked it up, I truthfully thought it may be even lighter.

Where the Aluto really distinguishes itself is in the way it rides. I can’t present lab numbers or wind-tunnel charts, so what follows is a group of journey impressions — the assorted components that outline its character. The dominant feeling? Fun, enjoyable, enjoyable.

This bike comes collectively as a cohesive unit and begs to be thrown round. Acceleration feels rapid, virtually keen. When you stand on the pedals, the bike surges ahead with a responsiveness nearer to a efficiency street machine than a typical gravel platform.

Climbing is especially gratifying. Efficient energy switch and a comparatively mild really feel encourage you to take care of momentum and assault gradients moderately than spin passively. On rolling terrain, the bike rewards energetic using — surge, get well, surge once more — making each stretch of street or path partaking.

Cornering is equally spectacular. The entrance finish tracks confidently via bends, providing you with the boldness to hold velocity with out second-guessing your line.

I rode the Aluto throughout a variety of terrain, and it felt assured and nimble in each scenario — from blended paths on the commute to grime roads and rocky, jarring path sections. In all these settings, the bike seemed it was prepared and prepared to conform.

Performance typically comes on the expense of consolation, however the Aluto stays accommodating over longer distances. Subtle compliance within the rear triangle and seatpost helps mute high-frequency vibrations, lowering fatigue within the decrease again and legs. Combined with large tyres at smart pressures, the journey turns into surprisingly clean even on rougher surfaces.

This makes it well-suited to endurance gravel occasions or all-day exploration rides. You can push onerous once you wish to, but nonetheless arrive house with out feeling battered.

If this bike performs so effectively, why would you select Factor’s extra aero-focused gravel mannequin (Ostro Gravel) as a substitute? Having not examined that bike, my reply is inevitably biased — however after an honest period of time on the Aluto, my sense is that for anybody aside from probably the most dedicated pure gravel racer, this is able to be the mannequin I’d suggest.

If you’re not often hitting gravel sectors at 45 km/h, it’s onerous to think about a situation the place the Aluto would really feel limiting. Even at greater speeds, the distinction between this and a completely aero-optimised machine might not be as giant as anticipated.

I don’t actually have many complaints — which, as a reviewer, can really feel barely disappointing. The solely actual situation I discovered was the downtube storage. The compartment beneath the bottle cage is principally too small to be genuinely helpful. I may match a tube in there, however not my mini-pump or another significant spares.

That raises the query: is it value having in any respect? I’d counsel maybe not. The additional carbon reinforcement across the opening, mixed with the bulkier bottle cage wanted for entry, provides weight for minimal profit. Still, it is a very small gripe in what’s in any other case a wonderfully thought-out package deal.

Build choices

The Aluto is obtainable in a number of builds. The frameset alone retails for $6,799 AUD. The construct examined right here, with SRAM Force and an influence meter, is available in at $11,899, whereas the highest mannequin with SRAM Red prices $14,699. Depending in your perspective, these costs may appear cheap or out of attain. It’s actually not the most costly bike in the marketplace, however neither is it positioned as a price range choice. It appears Factor is content material to let different fashions fill that position — the Aluto is constructed for efficiency.

While I might fortunately have this as my gravel race bike, some devoted gravel racer in search of a completely aero-optimised machine won’t agree. The worth locations it past what many purely leisure riders would think about. Nor does it have fairly the mounting capability for full expedition-style bikepacking.

Instead, the Aluto suits superbly within the center floor. It’s splendid for riders in search of a flexible gravel bike suited to semi-long adventures, quick hit-outs, fast-flowing trails, and even trickier technical routes. This is a motorcycle for somebody who desires to journey all these issues — however quick.

It all the time feels prefer it’s urging you to stomp on the pedals and push more durable. I’d fortunately do the whole lot on this bike, from hopping gutters on the commute house to lining up at one in every of Australia’s many glorious gravel occasions. In quick, the Aluto is a flexible efficiency machine.

• Fast and genuinely enjoyable
• Responsive dealing with
• Balanced consolation for lengthy rides
• Clean, built-in design
• Highly versatile journey character

Trade-offs

• Not constructed for ultra-wide tyres (although large sufficient for many riders)
• Less suited to closely loaded bikepacking
• Performance-focused really feel could also be sharp for informal riders

Specs (take a look at bike)

Frame: Toray® / Nippon Graphite® pan-based fibre
 Fork: Factor Aluto carbon
 Seatpost: 0 mm or 25 mm setback choices
 Bar-Stem: Black Inc built-in unit
 Wheelset: Black Inc Thirty Four
 Max Tyre Clearance: 47 mm measured

Groupset: SRAM Force E1 XPLR
 Speed: 1×13
 Chainring: 44T
 Cassette: 10–46T
 Rotors: 160 mm

Luke Meers

Luke Meers – Wollongong-based author Luke is a powerful and aggressive bike rider. He writes common tech and kit critiques for Bicycling Australia and isn’t afraid to get his fingers soiled.